12th Annual Lake Memphremagog ICE OUT Contest
It's a question as old as the lake itself. Whether you're on the shore of Newport or across the border in Canada, every spring lakeside visitors muse over the age-old question, "when do you think the ice will go out?" Lake Memphremagog is deep, with ice as thick as 30 inches some winters, but Vermonters never tire watching for any indicative sign of the changing season.
To celebrate this time honored tradition, and to make things a little more interesting while we wait, Newport Parks & Recreation runs an annual "ICE OUT" contest. Each year a weighted Ice Out "mascot" is placed in the bay at Gardner Memorial Park. The facade can be seen from the Causeway bridge and stands steadfast through snowstorms, wind and rain until the ice beneath finally gives way to the early warmth of spring. When the mascot drops "the ice is out in Newport". While ice fisherman despair, the news is always welcome to one lucky contestant who entered the closest prediction in the annual Ice Out contest. The person or persons that choose the closest time block to when the mascot dropped (without going past) wins 50%
of the contest pool (if there are multiple people in the block the pot will be split).
Guesses can be made at the Parks and Recreation office open M-F 8am-4pm. If you are unable to come to the Rec. Office to purchase a block, you can email us your block/blocks that you would like at [email protected]
We can accept cash, check, or credit card. Credit card payments can be taken over the phone.
Payments can be mailed to:
Newport Parks and Recreation
ICE OUT Contest
222 Main Street
Newport, VT 05855
-Guesses are not valid and will not go on the calendar until payment is received.
-You can only choose a block or multiple blocks that are still available: (see calendar below, updated daily)
3 hour & 12 hour time blocks: 2 guesses per block
6 hour time block on weekends: 4 guesses per block
To celebrate this time honored tradition, and to make things a little more interesting while we wait, Newport Parks & Recreation runs an annual "ICE OUT" contest. Each year a weighted Ice Out "mascot" is placed in the bay at Gardner Memorial Park. The facade can be seen from the Causeway bridge and stands steadfast through snowstorms, wind and rain until the ice beneath finally gives way to the early warmth of spring. When the mascot drops "the ice is out in Newport". While ice fisherman despair, the news is always welcome to one lucky contestant who entered the closest prediction in the annual Ice Out contest. The person or persons that choose the closest time block to when the mascot dropped (without going past) wins 50%
of the contest pool (if there are multiple people in the block the pot will be split).
Guesses can be made at the Parks and Recreation office open M-F 8am-4pm. If you are unable to come to the Rec. Office to purchase a block, you can email us your block/blocks that you would like at [email protected]
We can accept cash, check, or credit card. Credit card payments can be taken over the phone.
Payments can be mailed to:
Newport Parks and Recreation
ICE OUT Contest
222 Main Street
Newport, VT 05855
-Guesses are not valid and will not go on the calendar until payment is received.
-You can only choose a block or multiple blocks that are still available: (see calendar below, updated daily)
3 hour & 12 hour time blocks: 2 guesses per block
6 hour time block on weekends: 4 guesses per block
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MAKE YOUR PREDICTION
This year predictions can be made at the Rec. Dept. office, instead of purchasing a ticket like previous years you will purchase a time block on our calendar. Office hours M-F 8am-4pm, Deadline to submit Ice Out predictions is April 1st or when the ice starts to go out (whichever comes first). No guesses will be accepted after the ice is out. If multiple people choose the same date/time block for their predication they will split the pot. Mon.-Friday 3 hour time block: $5 per square Mon.-Friday 12 hour block: $20 per square Sat-Sun: 6 hour time block: $10 per square Sat-Sun: 12 hour time block $20 per square If you are unable to come to the Rec. Office to purchase a block, you can email us your block/blocks that you would like at [email protected] -Guesses are not valid and will not go on the calendar until payment is received. -You can only choose a block or multiple blocks that are still available: (see calendar below) 3 hour & 12 hour time blocks: 2 guesses per block 6 hour time block on weekends: 4 guesses per block |
ICE OUT RECORD
Tues. April 15 2014, 1:06AM - Winner John Colby (April 14, 5:30PM) Wed. April 15 2015, 5:33PM - Winner Arlan Barber (April 15, 5:07PM) Fri. March 18 2016, 3:13AM - Winner Edward Smith (March 18, 2:30AM) Mon. April 10 2017, 11:38AM - Winner John Colby (April 9, 5:45PM) (2018 - No Contest Held) Sat. April 13 2019, 11:07AM - Winner Steve Lawson (April 13, 10:05AM) Fri. March 20 2020, 8:53PM - Winner Crystal Standish (March 20, 8:37PM) Sat. March 27 2021, 4:09AM - Winner Jason Patenaude (March 27, 4:02AM) Thurs. March 31 2022, 4:08pm- Winners Josh Bergeron/ Haiyden Pinheiro (March 31, 4:08pm) Saturday April 2 2023, between 1:30pm-3:00pm- Winners Carolyn Norway (4/2 1:55pm), Donna Bennett (4/2 2:53pm), Kimberly Messier(4/2 2:18pm), Jamie Rockwell (4/2 2:12pm) Saturday March 9 2024, 1:57pm- Sonia Szeto (March 9, 1:36pm) Between Thursday March 20, 2025 9pm & March 21 6am- DeAnn Meunier, Kelly Collins, Kaitlyn Green, Michelle Brochu, Sarah Coffin Monday March 30, 2026 at 6:09PM- Winners Lewis Corbitt, Lynn Bennett |
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PRICING
$5 for 3 hour time block $10 for a 6 hour time block $20 for a 12 hour time block They make great gifts! CHECK OUT THE AVAILABLE BLOCKS BELOW If you are unable to come to the Rec. Office to purchase a block, you can email us your block/blocks that you would like at [email protected] -guesses are not valid until payment is received -you can only choose a block that is still available: 3 hour & 6 hour time blocks: 2 guesses per block 12 hour time block: 4 guesses per block |
